American Red Cross declares national blood shortage: How California School of the Arts – SGV is combating this emergency

The American Red Cross reported a national blood shortage at the beginning of 2024 as the number of donors hit a 20-year low. To make matters worse, the organization experienced a 7,000-unit shortfall between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone. Merely 3% of eligible individuals, totaling 6.8 million Americans, give blood annually, causing contributions to fall to an unprecedented low.

Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer, told the Red Cross, “One of the most distressing situations for a doctor is to have a hospital full of patients and an empty refrigerator without any blood products…a person needs lifesaving blood every two seconds in our country — and its availability can be the difference between life and death, however, blood is only available thanks to the generosity of those who roll up a sleeve to donate.”

Community initiatives have undergone significant changes, hence the low blood donation rates. The unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic along with the subsequent surge in remote work have caused unprecedented challenges for traditional outreach programs, while the shift towards virtual platforms has altered the dynamics of interpersonal connections, making it harder for organizations to work with individuals effectively.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, California School of the Arts-SGV has utilized its distinct position within the community to encourage engagement and raise awareness by partnering with the Red Cross to host a blood drive.

Students and staff show off their pride after donating blood (Photo courtesy of Makenna Bear)

The drive had an impressive turnout of around 70 donors with a collective of over 73 pints of blood. This act is anticipated to save as many as 220 lives.

Students also had the unique opportunity to be directly involved in the process by assisting with registration, event scheduling, public outreach, and clean-up. Through these hands-on experiences, students acquired essential teamwork and communication skills along with, of course, volunteer hours.

“Partnering with the Red Cross to host a blood drive at CSArts has been extremely important to me as I am able to directly connect students to the opportunity of helping those in need. I strive to create a positive environment so students and community members continue to help in any way possible,” sophomore Makenna Bear said.

CSArts – SGV also collaborated with Duarte High School’s Interact Club to host a blood drive with City of Hope to further their impact.

CSArts-SGV and Duarte High School student volunteers (Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Bowman)

A commendable number of individuals participated, garnering support not only from high school students but from faculty and parents alike, with around 65 total donors. The collective effort resulted in 67 units of blood, a substantial contribution that will undoubtedly benefit countless individuals in need of transfusions and medical treatments.

“Hosting a blood drive is essential to the community right now. Everything we can do to help patients and families, especially within our local community is crucial. I hope this inspires others to also lend a hand and make a difference in the world,” sophomore Natalie Lanza, president of the California School of the Arts – SGV Rotary Club, said. 

Eligible donors must be at least 16 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and should not have any medical conditions. Specific requirements may vary based on the policies of the respective organization.

If you’re interested in donating, make an appointment to give blood or platelets by contacting the Red Cross at 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or City of Hope at idonateblood4hope.org.